snapp



(No Model.)

J. W. SNAP P. LIFTING JACK FOR RAISING RAILROAD TRACKS. No. 276,088. Patented Apr'. 17,1883.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

JAMESW. SNAPP, OF JASPER, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MILTON W. ANDERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

LlFTlNG-JACK FOR RAISING RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,088, dated April 17, 1883.

Application filed March 7, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES W. SNAPP, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Jasper, in the county of Marion and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifting-Jacks for Raise ing Railroad-Tracks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to railroad-track lifters; and it consists of a lifting-jack constructed with two standards to straddle a rail and rest on a cross-tie, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a track-lifter having my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section, the brace-block being shown in its raised position. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is a front view. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line w 0c of Fig. 1.

The frame and body of the lifter are cast or otherwise made in two parts, a a, bolted together at a. a a a; forming the two standards A A and upper connecting part, A having cast on the sides the ribs a to strengthen the metal, and also to form handles for lifting and handling the jack.

B is a ratchet-bar adjusted to slide vertically in grooves in the standard A, and provided with the notches b on the front side and the notches b on the back, and having at its lower end the projecting foot or lug b constructed to extend under the ball of the rail D, as shown.

C is a pawl or dog pivoted on a bolt or rod at c, and adjusted to catch in the notches b ofthe bar B, and provided with aweighted lever, 0, attached to the pivotal rod of the pawl.

E is a brace-block adjusted to slide vertically in a slot and in grooves in the standard A, and having the inner projection, 61, to bear against the side of the ball of the rail D, and having the outer projection, d, for a handle for raising the block when required.

F is a fulcrum formed on the upper part of the jack for the bearing of the bar or lever G. The upper part, A is recessed between the fulcrum and ratchet-bar to receive the end of the bar or lever G.

In applying the jack the standards A A are placed astraddle of a rail, D, the block E being raised, as shown in Fig. 2, to allow the standard A to be placed close enough to the ball of the rail to allow the lug b to pass down by the side of the ball of the rail on the opposite side and to be inserted under the ball of the rail, when the block E is dropped down, forming a brace to theother side of the rail, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Then by means of the bar Gr, insert-edover the fulcrum F into one of the notches b, the bar B is raised, carrying with it the rail D, the block E sliding upward in its slot and grooves, and the pawl 0, being held to the bar by the Weighted lever c, catches in the notches I), holding the bar B from dropping down till the lever or bar G is readjusted in a lower notch, and so on till the rail is raised sufficiently, and is held by the pawl till the ballast is placed under the ties, when the lever is again applied, raising bar B sufliciently to allow the pawl to be disengaged from the notches b, which is done by lifting the weighted lever c, and the bar B drops down. The block E is then raised and the jack is moved laterally, so that the lug b may be disengaged t'rom the rail, and the jack is lifted off the track.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a railroad-track lifter having the two standards A A, the combination, with the double-ratchet lifting-bar B, having the lug b", of the adjustable brace-block E and the pawl (J, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a railroad-track lifter having the two standards A A, the combination, with the double ratchet-bar B, having the lug D of the adjustable brace-block E and the pawl 0, provided with the weighted lever c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

"In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. SNAPP.

Witnesses:

D. A. KELLY, ALBERT GRIFFITH. 

